Columbus Crew secure Bailly to bolster defensive options

Columbus Crew have officially acquired former Manchester United defender Eric Bailly, securing the services of the Ivory Coast international as a free agent. The club confirmed the signing on its official website, highlighting the defender’s 12 seasons of combined experience in La Liga and the English Premier League as a key asset for the squad.

The contract is structured to run until June 2027, with a club option included to extend the deal until 2029. This move marks Bailly’s latest chapter after spells with Villarreal, Beşiktaş, and most recently, Real Oviedo in Spain, where he made 15 appearances last season.

Columbus Crew General Manager Issa Tall emphasised the strategic value of the acquisition, stating that Bailly’s defensive quality, leadership, and composure would strengthen the team's backline. Tall noted that the defender’s experience at the highest levels of the game, combined with a winning mentality, would provide valuable benefits both on and off the field as the club pushes toward its goals in the second half of the season.

Bailly’s career at Old Trafford began in the summer of 2016 when he joined from Villarreal. He spent six seasons at the club, making 113 appearances and scoring one goal, although his tenure was significantly impacted by frequent injuries. Following his departure from Manchester United, he was loaned to Olympique de Marseille for the 2022-2023 season before moving permanently to Turkish side Beşiktaş in 2023.

After returning to Villarreal in the winter of 2024, where he played 25 matches over a season and a half, Bailly moved to Real Oviedo. His arrival in Major League Soccer represents a new phase for the central defender, who joins a US-based side looking to integrate his experience into their roster for the upcoming campaign.